When is the best time to prune bonsai red maple?

The role of pruning bonsai red maple

The red maple bonsai is an ornamental bonsai. If it is allowed to grow, the branches and leaves will be particularly lush and numerous, and there may be leggy branches. In the long run, it will affect the appearance and the ornamental value will be greatly reduced. In addition, the old branches will continue to elongate and consume nutrients, making it impossible to sprout new branches, which will affect the later growth. Pruning should be done according to the growth.

Bonsai maple pruning time

Generally speaking, it is better to prune bonsai red maple in March and April, before it sprouts and grows. Proper pruning can promote the growth of side branches and make the plant fuller and more beautiful.

Bonsai red maple cutting propagation

It is usually best to prune red maple bonsai around April in spring, and specifically before budding. Proper pruning can save nutrients and promote the germination and growth of side buds, which will make the plant shape fuller and more beautiful.

Bonsai red maple pruning method

1. Shortening: When caring for red maple, if there is insufficient light, it may cause the branches to grow too long. At this time, shortening is needed to cut off some of the excessively long branches. This will also make the branches more evenly distributed.

2. Thinning: During the period of vigorous growth of red maple, many messy branches appear, which seriously affect the aesthetics. At this time, you should pay attention to thinning, appropriately cut off the densely distributed branches, and remove the diseased and insect-infested branches and weak branches. It can also increase light transmittance and ventilation, which is more conducive to subsequent growth.

3. Shape: Red maple is mainly for viewing, so it should be pruned according to the overall shape to maintain the overall beauty, making it more pleasing to the eye and more ornamental.

Notes on pruning bonsai red maple

Bonsai red maple is often shaped by pruning. The pruning time is chosen in autumn when the leaves fall and the tree is exposed. Generally, there are 12 buds on each branch. The length of the branch and the direction of the buds need to be arranged according to the shape of the bonsai to keep the tree shape beautiful.